MEDIA RELEASE Monday, January 19, 2015 Nothing About Us, Without Us! The health system exists to deliver improved health outcomes for all health consumers in Australia. They must be part of the conversation about improving it. The Federal Health Minister appears to have forgotten the central players in the health system --- consumers --- in her consultations on future directions for Medicare. It is a disappointing start to her tenure that Minister Ley has been quick to consult those who get paid by the health system, but not those who use the system. “The Government has so far brought a bean-counting approach to health policy with little or no attention to what’s good for the patient or good for Australia,” CHF’s Chief Executive Officer, Adam Stankevicius, said. “To date, we have been having a health financing debate fixated on the Government’s fiscal bottom line, when we should have been debating health financing options focussed on improving health outcomes. “Minister Sussan Ley is placing great store in consulting doctors but makes no mention of consumers. This has made for a lop-sided approach where the focus has gone to the financial welfare of doctors rather than the wellbeing of patients. “Of course doctors should be properly remunerated for the important work they do. But if the Government was taking a coherent approach to health policy it would start with what’s best for patients. …2/ CHF is an independent not for profit organisation representing over 2 million health consumers. Consumers Health Forum of Australia PO Box 3099 Manuka ACT 2603 T: 02 6273 5444 www.chf.org.au ABN 82 146 988 927 “What is best for patients is likely to be best for the economy in the long term. The Government’s knee jerk obsession with user pays, price signals and co-payments shows it has failed to take a considered approach. “For the past year the Consumers Health Forum has been urging the Government to consider the range of other measures it could take to make health care in Australia more cost-effective. We spend billions more than we need to on expensive avoidable hospitalisations and on expensive but unnecessary or unjustified surgical procedures. And we continue to pay millions more than other countries for devices, pharmaceuticals and equipment due to poor price comparisons. “We have sought a meeting with Ms Ley in the hope that she will see that consumercentred health care will yield the best approach on Medicare. ENDS Media inquiries: Mark Metherell 0429111986 CHF is an independent not for profit organisation representing over 2 million health consumers. Consumers Health Forum of Australia PO Box 3099 Manuka ACT 2603 T: 02 6273 5444 www.chf.org.au ABN 82 146 988 927